BREAKING: Stephen Colbert headed to the Persian Gulf
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Holy cow! This just in from Stars and Stripes:
Colbert heads downrange, maybe New Mexico
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, March 18, 2009Stephen Colbert ARLINGTON, Va. — Stephen Colbert is OPSEC.
The host of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” said he is headed to the Persian Gulf to entertain U.S. troops, but he repeatedly declined to give further details.
“I’m not supposed to tell anyone where I’m going, but just say it’s sandy and they’d like us to leave,” Colbert told Stars and Stripes on Tuesday.
. . .
Colbert would only say he will do a week of shows somewhere in the Persian Gulf from “a place that is packed with troops.”
“I’m not going there to change the world; I’m going to make jokes for the 140,000 people who are still there,” Colbert said.
. . .
He joked that his trip is an attempt to outdo Jon Stewart, host of Comedy Central’s “Daily Show.”
“It’s purely out of his competition of his [Jim] Cramer interview,” Colbert said. “I actually had to go to war zone just to do something more impressive than hammering CNBC.”
In all seriousness, Colbert said he is honored to have been asked to entertain U.S. troops.
“When you get asked to do this, I think you’d be a fool to say no,” Colbert said, notes that he has a flag from the 82nd Airborne Division given to him by a wounded soldier who attended his show.
. . .
This is an amazing thing. Entertain those troops well, and here’s to each and every one of you coming home safe!
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28 Comments
March 17th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Omigosh!! That is huge news!!! I hope he has a safe trip!!
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
This truly is amazing! I can’t wait for the shows.
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I mean, if we get to see them. Either way, congrats to Stephen, and I hope he has a safe trip.
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Fantastic and honorable — the troops will love him!
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
WOW! This is just unbelievable!! You can tell he’s really honored though, and we wouldn’t expect anything more from him. This is just so cool beyond belief – he’s like the Bob Hope of modern times for the troops! I just can’t get over the awesomeness of this.
I certainly hope he has a safe trip and I hope we get to see some of it! Thanks for posting this awesome scoop! :D
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Wow! Yeah, stick it to Jon, Stephen! :P Have a fun trip!
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
I wish him and the crew the safest of trips.
The truthiness cannot be contained.
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Wow! What a wonderful thing to do!!! This is another reason to love and respect Stephen Colbert.
Like everyone else, I hope he and his staff have a safe trip.
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March 17th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Wow. What an honor and opportunity for him, and a real treat for the troops. I bet the shows will be fantastic, you know he and the writers will work so hard on them.
Wishing for safe travels and a fulfilling experience for all.
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March 17th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
This is amazing! What a great thing to do. I hope they have a very safe trip and put together some fantastic and funny shows.
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March 17th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Oh wow, that’s so great! I hope him and the crew have a fun and safe trip. That”ll be a real treat for the troops!
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Just wanted to say -
Don’t expect any video, fans and friends. When performers entertain troops, the shows are rarely broadcast. Sometimes there may be security issues that would prevent any video at all.
I’m fairly certain that these shows are for the troops only, and the most we can expect is a couple of short clips.
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Maybe you could casually show up at one of these shows, flash an old badge, and hide a camera in your bassoon for us? ;)
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March 18th, 2009 at 10:35 am
Great idea! Bassoons are useful for all sorts of things. Didn’t Pete Dominick suggest something in particular…?
(to explain: I used to be an Army Bassoon Player for the 1st Cavalry Division. This is absolutely not a joke.)
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Actually, both the article linked above and the Comedy Central Insider take on it do imply that they’re taping the show over there. I tried to be noncommittal about that until there’s more official clarification, but I guess we’ll just want to sit tight until they release more information (if that’s what they choose to do).
Regardless of what type of shows Stephen has planned and how public or private he intends them to be, I think he’s doing a really special thing, and I hope everyone involved succeeds and comes home safely.
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Sorry, I sit corrected. I didn’t read the entire article.
Wooooo, troop shows! Hooo-ah!
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
what a great opportunity for Stephen to do something for our troops! I sincerely hope the folks there enjoy it!!
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March 17th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Wow, good for him, what a great thing to do. May he and all stay safe and sound.
I just got back from a tonight’s St Patty’s Day Daily Show taping (John Oliver’s field segment was hysterical BTW) and someone asked Jon what an honor it was to work w/ Stephen Colbert and Jon replied, “It was a great honor and if we knew how talented he was we’d never have let him leave!” TDS provided bagpipes to play for the waiting line, too. Fun time.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:09 pm
oh John Oliver field segment you say?! 11 PM cannot come soon enough.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Yes and while watching it Jon was laughing so much he did a head desk.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Stephen Colbert, I salute you. What a wonderful man. That is all.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
haha! i wouldn’t mind if they dropped him off here in new mexico. (: pretty much the same degree of desolation, it’d be hard to tell the difference. seriously though, this is awesome. the troops deserve it!
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I think it’s honorable that Stephen is going to the Persian Gulf to entertain the troops. However, as somebody who has visited the region, it’s not as bad as the media here in the States makes it out to be. However, if he’s going to either Iraq or Aghanistan – that’s another story. Although, with Aghanistan, there’s more stability. I’ve had two of my bosses go there and come back in one piece (on more than more occasion). Unforunately, in Iraq, a staff member, in another unit, was killed. However, this was in the early stages of the war.
General Petraenus, you keep him safe!!! There are millions here in America who rely on him to maintain their insanity. However, for those who make the ultimate sacrifce (our troops); there is no reason that they should not experience what we do 4 days a week. USA! USA! USA! USA!
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Soldiers are so very appreciative of those that come to them and offer support of any kind. What an awesome thing to do.
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March 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Oh that is absolutely awesome! I had never really thought of that gig for Stephen but it’s great that he’s doing it! They’ll love him to death, I’m sure. I hope he and the crew and everyone involved stays very safe, and I hope he has a great time!
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March 17th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Sounds pretty cool. Colbert is more of a theatrical performer than a stand-up performer, so I wonder what the format of his presentation will be like.
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March 17th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
Wow, that is huge! Hope he stays safe!
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March 18th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Stephen is one of our national treasures! (Sorry for the cliche, but it’s true.) We love Stephen and his writers and crew!
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